The Nigerian Bar Association has come under fire from the Body of Benchers for using social media to disseminate sensitive papers for internal communication among the body's members. In a statement released on Friday, the body clarified why the NBA President Yakubu Maikyau's (SAN) request that Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) not preside over the most recent Call to Bar ceremony, at which 4711 new attorneys were admitted to the bar, was not challenged. It claimed that because the letter was submitted late to the BOB headquarters in Abuja, it was not discussed during the group's December 5 meeting intended to finalize plans for the Call to Bar ceremony. The letter further stated that the Chairman, to whom it was addressed, was not given the chance to answer before the NBA President took up the problem, so members were not aware of it when it was brought up by Maikyau.
Apart from the fact that the NBA's letter was delivered personally to its Chairman, it wasn't listed on the agenda of the meeting, which had been set since November 14, according to the statement made by the BOB's Secretary, Mr. Daniel Tela.
The letter, it said, had already been discussed on social media before it was received at the BOB headquarters on December 5 at precisely 9:32 am, the day of the meeting.
"It is on record that the media, (print and social media) has been agog with reports regarding the appeal by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to not preside over the Call to Bar ceremonies," the statement says, in part. “This widely circulated call has saturated the media space from Sunday, 4th December 2022 till now.
“At the meeting of the Body of Benchers held on Monday 5th December 2022, which notice was given on 14th November, 2022, the sole item for discussion was the consideration of the report of the screening committee of the Body, preparatory to the Call to Bar ceremonies.
“The report was duly considered and approved.
“Under the AOB, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association informed members that he had written a letter to the Chairman of the Body to which the Chairman stated that although he had not read the letter as it was not yet brought to his attention, he was aware of the fact that it had already been circulated in the media, particularly the social media.
“And despite the fact that the letter was personally addressed to him and not to the Body, he was prepared to waive his rights as he would want it discussed one way or the other in view of the contents of the letter which centered on his personality and integrity.
The NBA President said, "I also prepared copies of the abovementioned letter and brought them to the meeting, but the majority of the members indicated that they had not yet received such emails. I sent the letter to members' emails in the evening of Sunday, December 4, 2022.
"Some members felt that, if the letter was intended for or addressed to the Body, it was obviously not ready for consideration.
"The aforementioned letter was received at the Body of Benchers Secretariat on Monday, December 5, 2022, at 9:32 am.
“In spite of all the comments and contributions of members, the Chairman still passionately pleaded that the matter is taken, and made reference to a previous letter written in July 2022 on the eve of Call to Bar ceremonies.
“Majority of the members were of the view that the Chairman drop his insistence that the matter is conclusively decided, bearing in mind, several factors including the fact that majority of the members did not receive the email, coupled with the fact that the Call to Bar subject was too important and central to the Body and the content of the letter was not such that could be taken under the AOB.
“Furthermore, the letter was addressed to the Chairman, Body of Benchers, therefore, there is the need for the Chairman’s response to be received for proper consideration.
“It was, therefore, resolved that the matter be taken at the emergency meeting of the Body scheduled to take place in January 2023 at a date to be communicated to members.
“Thereafter, the motion for the adjournment of the meeting was moved.
“The Body frowned at the use of the social media platform in forwarding sensitive official documents communication. "I have been instructed to make the aforementioned statement in response to several requests for information regarding the Call to Bar ceremonies' conduct and the Body of Benchers' stance regarding the NBA's request that the Chairman of the Body of Benchers step down from overseeing the ceremonies.
The statement read, "To the glory of God, the Call to Bar rituals were successful.
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